Healthcare Providers’ Perspectives on the Use of Teledentistry in Supporting Oral Healthcare of First Nations Children in Northern Ontario

Abstract

Healthcare Providers’ Perspectives on the Use of Teledentistry in Supporting Oral Healthcare of First Nations Children in Northern Ontario Natalie Arshat Master of ScienceFaculty of Dentistry University of Toronto 2024 AbstractObjective: Understand the perspectives of community-based healthcare workers in remote Indigenous (First Nations) communities in Northern Ontario on the potential benefits of teledentistry to improve access to pediatric dental care. Methods: A qualitative descriptive study design was used to elaborate on the experiences of community health providers who serve under the Weeneebayko Area Health Authority in Moose Factory, Ontario. Participants interviewed included healthcare providers and community health representatives. Semi-structured, one-on-one interviews were conducted virtually April and September of 2023. Thematic analysis was applied to interview transcripts which were then organized and categorized into recurring themes. Results: Participants interviewed included dental professionals (dentists, assistants, and hygienists), nurses, and a paramedic, all of whom had experience delivering care within the coastal communities of James and Hudson Bay, Ontario. Themes that emerged included: teledentistry as a means of communication between remote dental experts and community-based health providers, supporting more favourable connections between providers and patients, mitigating the use of resources and burden on staff and patients, and as a support mechanism for decision-making amongst nurses. The interviewees also described challenges associated with managing acute pediatric dental cases with intermittent access to dentists. The idea of teledentistry, particularly the store-and-forward vs. real-time examination form, was received favourably by all participants interviewed. Conclusion: The study findings suggest that teledentistry has a beneficial role to play in supporting healthcare providers serving remote First Nations communities where access to and sustainability of dental care is a current challenge. The favoured response to access to technology, whether in an asynchronous or synchronous manner, reflects that this innovative medium could aid in addressing the management of the considerable levels of oral disease among the pediatric population.